Spout apparatus, systems and methods

Abstract

A spout is disclosed capable of detecting if it is properly “on” or “off” the container according to tilt characteristics of the spout as determined by accelerometer and other sensor data. The tilt characteristics can be applied to one or more sets of coupling criteria, which if met, can provide an indication that the spout is “on bottle” or “off bottle”.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 780,150, filed Mar. 13, 2013. U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 780,150 and all other referenced extrinsic materials are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The field of the invention is dispensing technologies.BACKGROUND[0003]The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.[0004]Measuring liquor poured and controlling liquor costs is critical in the hospitality industry. Some spouts are designed to measure liquor poured and report it, and there are some spouts that control the amount poured and report that. In order for either of these types of spouts to be effective, there must be a way of monitoring that a ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This solution reduces complexity, cost, and risk of failure while improving the accuracy of spout coupling monitoring, enabling reliable detection of on-bottle and off-bottle conditions and flow rate measurement.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, there are numerous mechanical problems with such approaches.

First, the spouts typically are not fully inserted, or they work their way partly out of the bottle with use.

However, the detect mechanism reports the spout as off bottle when the spout is not fully inserted.

In addition to a false off-bottle signal, this typically also puts the spout to sleep and no data is transmitted.

Second, the mechanical switches tend to clog and fail with time.

Third, in the case of a button or stem closing some contacts, the button forms an opening for liquids to get into the spout body and corrupt the electronics or drain the battery.

Fourth, but by no means last, the mechanical contact closing or proximity switch adds complexity and cost.

However, Temko fails to appreciate that sensor data can be used to detect a spout coupling status.

However, the sensor device is not part of a spout nor provides a spout coupling status.

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